DJ Snake, Lil Jon - Turn Down For What

Since the end of last year, Americans have been listening and dancing to the hypnotic DJ Snake and Lil'Jon tune "Turn Down for What" and its obsessive chorus, "Turn down for what? Turn down for what? Turn down for what? Turn down for what? Turn down for what?"

DJ Snake, Lil Jon - Turn Down for What

In order to explain "turn down" you have to first understand turnt or turnt up. That's slang and a way for people to say that they're having a really good time, sometimes with the help of alcohol or weed.

"Turn down for what" is a song about keeping the partying going. "Fire up that loud/Another round of shots" is Lil Jon telling you or someone to keep the party going. (Loud is slang for good quality marijuana.)

"Turn down for what?" is a rhetorical question. There's nothing, at this moment in time, that's worth coming down from this high, Lil Jon feels. What would make you want to sober up instead of being drunk/high/having a good time?

Hangovers and morning-afters get harsher the older you get. These things could affect your ability to stay turnt up all night. The people who can get away with never turning down are primarily babies, very rich rappers, socialites, and college students with afternoon classes.

This guide was written in July. It is now October and "Turn Down for What" has been used in (among other things) a "get out and vote" campaign and a Project Runway advertisement since this guide was published. On October 14, Michelle Obama danced with a turnip while making a pun on the song ("turnip for what"):

Update: A couple of Vox readers alerted me to Lil Jon's Reddit AMA where he was asked and answered the question of what get him turnt and what he would turn down for. I included that in the post. We also updated the post to include Michelle Obama dancing with a turnip. 041b061a72